WEBVTT DONNA IN TONIGHT'S WOMAN'S: DOCTOR LUNG CANCER IS THE NUMBER ONECAUSE OF CANCER DEATHS NOT JUSTHERE IN THE U.S., BUT AROUND THE WORLD.CIGARETTE SMOKING IS BY FAR THENUMBER ONE RISK FACTOR FOR LUNGCANCER.BUT THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER SMOKEDCAN ALSO DEVELOP THE DISEASE.MERCY MEDICAL CENTER DOCTORKIERNAN BRUNE SAYS UP TO TWENTY%OF PEOPLE WHO DIE FROM LUNGCANCER ARE NON-SMOKERS>> SMOKING IS BY FAR THE BIGGESTRISK FACTOR FOR LUNG CANCER BUTOTHER FACTORS INCLUDEENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES LIKE AIRPOLLUTION, EXPOSURE TOSECONDHAND SMOKE, RADON GAS, ANDCERTAIN WORK EXPOSURES LIKEASBESTOS OR DIESEL FUEL EXHAUST.DONNA: DR. BRUNE SAYS LUNGCANCER SYMPTOMS INCLUDEPERSISTANT COUGH, SHORTNESS OFBREATH, CHEST PAIN AND COUGHINGUP BLOOD.BUT 25% OF PATIENTS HAVE NOSYMPTOMS AT ALL WHEN THE CANCERIS FIRST DISCOVERED ON A ROUTINE

Woman's Doctor: Lung cancer No. 1 cause of cancer deaths

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 5:47 PM EST Jan 8, 2018

BALTIMORE —

Lung cancer is the No. 1 cause of cancer deaths in the United States and around the world.

Cigarette smoking is by far the No. 1 risk factor for lung cancer, but those who have never smoked can also develop the disease.

Advertisement

Mercy Medical Center Dr. Kiernan Brune said up to 20 percent of people who die from lung cancer are nonsmokers.

"Smoking is by far the biggest risk factor for lung cancer, but other risk factors include certain environmental exposures like air pollution, exposure to second-hand smoke, radon gas and certain work exposures like asbestos or diesel fuel exhaust," Brune said.

Brune said lung cancer symptoms include persistent cough, shortness of breath, chest pain and coughing up blood. But 25 percent of patients have no symptoms at all when the cancer is first discovered on a routine chest X-ray or CT scan.